KI Media: Hun Xen clinging to power

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Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Hun Xen, the eternal PM of Nambodia

Cambodia's Eternal PM?

Hun Xen still unease by pressure for PM’s term limit

04 April 2011
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

While the Arab block is being hit by unrest to unseat a group of dictators who have clung to their power for a very long period of time, Hun Xen, the Cambodian leader who clung to his power for the past 26 years, is also expressing his great concerns over the opposition pressure demanding for a term limit to the country’s premiership.

During a school inauguration in Ksach Kandal district in the morning of 04 April, Hun Xen issued a warning to the opposition party, telling them to stop demanding term limit for the position of prime minister. Hun Xen claimed that everything depends on what the people have determined, if the people still support the CPP, then Hun Xen will continue to preserve his premiership candidacy forever.

It should be noted that (1) Cambodia chose to follow democracy on 23 October 1991 as stipulated in the Paris Peace Agreement on Cambodia, this agreement was signed by 4 Cambodian parties – the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, the Democratic Kampuchea regime, the KPNLF (Son Sann) and the Funcinpec movements; and (2) leaders among the democratic countries in the world are subject to term limit – from 2 terms or 10 years – but after that there would be a change in leadership. However, on the contrary, Hun Xen choses to declare publicly that he will remain PM for the rest of his life.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hun Sen predicts he can't rule until he is 80

Thursday, 21 January 2010
By Khmerization
Source: Radio Free Asia

Prime Minister Hun Sen (pictured) has predicted that he can't rule until he is 80 years old, but also said it depends on the decision of the voters through the elections, reports Radio Free Asia.

A few years ago, Mr. Hun Sen said he will rule as prime Minister until he is 90 years old. But speaking at the Sixth Asian Economic Forum on 20th January in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen admitted that his health will not allow him to rule until he is 80, but insists it depends on the voters. "When I am 80, I don't think I am strong enough. Now I am 58, so there are 22 more years to go when I will be 80, so it is a very, very long time. But everything does not depends an anyone's age, it depends on the people (voters) only", he said.

He also said that if he loses in the 2013 election, he will congratulate the winner and transfer all powers to the person without hesitation. "But if in 2013 the people will not elect me, my only choice is to leave the office, so the winner has nothing to worry: I will go to the Council of Ministers headquarter and sign to transfer everything to the new leader and I will congratulate and wish the new leader good luck to sever the country well and I won't harrass you (him). Please don't worry, I will help to tell those who used to support me to support the new leader because he/she is elected by the people. So, please don't worry", Mr. Hun Sen said.

Mr. Hun Sen's comments came after strong criticism that he is a dictatorial ruler who has clung on the powers for far too long.

Mr. Son Chhay, MP from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said Mr. Hun Sen should not talk too much about his powers, but he should be talking about developments, national security, the rule of laws and democracy. "(He) thinks only about his powers, his influences and forget about strengthening our national institutions and lead the country properly. This is another danger. I am not concerned or be excited about who is in power, but the important thing is he/she has to ensure that there is a respect for the rule of laws and a respect for the principle of democracy. This is the right thing to think rather than thinking about how to leave office and how to take power", he said.